Classic Trash discussion

This topic is for those who wish to discuss the book in progress. No spoilers please.

I just picked this up from my library and will begin reading it tonight.

I just finished chapter 7. I am loving it so far. Lots of that late 50s/early 60s Cold War era atmosphere. It's been rainy and dreary here, so it fits in perfectly with reading this book.

As I'm reading this, I can imagine how hard it would be to have a life outside of being a spy. I can see why Leamas is divorced and doesn't spend time with his children.

I wonder why he got married and had kids in the first place? Maybe it happened before he was recruited into being a spy? Knowing what he knows now about spying, he couldn't possibly take a chance putting people he cares about in danger. And so we see why his relationship with Liz is so distant.

Yeah, I can see that there would not be much outside one's job. Although Control is married. I think it is a matter of being able to compartmentalize, and Leamas does not seem to be able to do that.

Control has a desk job and isn't out in the field, so I think that makes a difference on how vulnerable one's family would be to being harmed by agents on the "other side." Leamas had been out in the field the entire time, so there must have been periods when he had no contact with his family due to the security of his mission. That had to have strained the marriage and relationship with the children.

Yeah, although if I was a bad guy, I would target the hell out of Control's family. Maybe that goes against the spy code or something. I am really enjoying this book, btw.

I had watched the miniseries of Le Carre's The Night Manager (which I loved). In it, the woman "controlling" the spy infiltrating an arms dealer operation was pregnant and married. At one point, the "bad guys" did beat up her husband when they suspected a mole in their operation. However, it only made her go after them more. She was great: a bad-ass pregnant woman kicking ass!

Man, I really feel like I should like the Smiley books more. This one is good, but I feel like the one for me is out there somewhere. Which one is your guys' favorite?

Sarah wrote: "Man, I really feel like I should like the Smiley books more. This one is good, but I feel like the one for me is out there somewhere. Which one is your guys' favorite?"

This is my first Le Carre!

My first, too.

I just finished it. Wow! After the halfway mark, I was totally engrossed in the story and could not put the book down. Five stars.

Has anyone seen either film version of Le Carre's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy? I have not. I'd heard it had a very complex plot and was difficult to follow. That's another book that has intimidated me. However, after reading The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, I may give it a shot.

After finishing this book, I kind of think that readers who enjoy noir fiction might also like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. There are certain things both have in common. (Being vague on purpose here, due to spoilers.)

Sarah, maybe that's why you didn't like the book as much as others did? I'm not sure if you're a big fan of noir fiction.

I so need to re-read this !